Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ Community Grieves the Murder of Ta’Ron “Rio” Carson and Urges Healing and Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2018

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ Community Grieves the Murder of Ta’Ron “Rio” Carson and Urges Healing and Action

Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ community is devastated to learn of the suspected hate driven murder of Ta’Ron “Rio” Carson, a local 24-year old Black gay man, in the early morning of Sunday, March 4, 2018. This tragedy has left us heartbroken and is especially painful for Kansas City’s Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people, as Rio was well known and celebrated across these communities.

This act of violence follows a pattern in which LGBTQ+ people of color are most often directly targeted and suffer the highest number of fatalities. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 71 percent of LGBTQ+ homicides in 2017 were people of color. We ask LGBTQ+ people to center the family and the voices of those most directly impacted by this attack so that we can best support them and come together in this tragic time.

A candlelight vigil and solidarity walk will start at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111, Tuesday March 6th at 6:00 PM​. This has been planned with Rio’s family’s support to make space for the grieving and celebration of Rio’s life. The solidarity walk will begin at 7:00 PM, candles will be provided and lit prior to the walk. Feel free to bring pictures, balloons, flowers, etc. or wear any items of clothing in support and remembrance of Rio (i.e., t-shirts or Beyoncé-related items because he loved her). We will walk approximately one mile towards the intersection of 39th St. & Main to the parking lot of CVS, near where Rio was shot and killed. Those unable to walk are encouraged to meet in the CVS parking lot.

Following the vigil, the Kansas City Center for Inclusion at 3911 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111 will remain open and have light refreshments for those who want a safe, media-free space to reflect and process through community conversation.

We encourage people to reach out to the following local LGBTQ+ organizations who have united to provide healing, support, and resources for the community: